Their first album, Rotomusic de Liquidificapum, was released in 1993. Since then, they have released another eight: Gol de Quem?, Tem Mas Acabou, Televisão de Cachorro, Isopor, Ruído Rosa, MTV ao Vivo: No Museu de Arte da Pampulha, Toda Cura para Todo Mal and Daqui pro Futuro.
The band's popularity began to increase along with two other groups from Belo Horizonte, Jota Quest and Skank. The band plays pop-rock but frequently resorts to electronic music elements as well. Pato Fu is often said to be influenced by Os Mutantes, a famous Brazilian tropicalist group from the 1960s, probably because of the experimentalism found in both bands' songs. One can find in Pato Fu musical influences by Devo, The Cure, Radiohead, Pizzicato Five, Super Furry Animals and also MPB, among various others.
With the release of Ruído Rosa, Pato Fu was nominated as one of the best bands of the world by Time Magazine in 2001. The band's 10th anniversary in 2002 was celebrated with the release of MTV ao Vivo: No Museu de Arte da Pampulha, a live performance with some of their most famous songs. As of 2005, popular hits include:
* Sobre o Tempo (Gol de Quem?)
* Pinga (Gol de Quem?, about alcoholism)
* Canção pra Você Viver Mais (Televisão de Cachorro)
* Um Dia, Um Ladrão (Televisão de Cachorro)
* Made in Japan (Isopor; the song is almost entirely in Japanese. It was written in Portuguese by John and translated by a Japanese teacher. Its video clip is a tribute to old Japanese Sci-Fi movies and a satire against Americanization which won a VMB (the Brazilian VMA)). The song chorus is from the song Manah Manah '(see the External links section)'.
* Depois (Isopor)
* Imperfeito (Isopor)
* Perdendo Dentes (Isopor)
* Eu (Ruído Rosa)
* Ando Meio Desligado (Ruído Rosa)
* Por Perto (MTV Ao Vivo (Museu de Arte da Pampulha))
* Não Mais (MTV Ao Vivo (Museu de Arte da Pampulha))
* Uh Uh Uh, Lá Lá Lá, Ié Ié! (Toda Cura para Todo Mal)
* Anormal (Toda Cura para Todo Mal)
Fernanda Takai and John are married and had a daughter, Nina, in 2003.
The name of the band was taken from a Garfield comic strip where Garfield attacked a mailman with his "Cat Fu" techniques. The band liked the wordplay, but decided to replace Gato (cat) with Pato (duck). Coincidentally or not, the expression had also previously appeared in the Brazilian translation of the Howard the Duck movie; in it, Howard says he knows "Pato Fu" (Quack Fu in the original).
G.R.E.S.
Pato Fu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mas em fevereiro
Tenho que suportar os G.R.E.S.
O carnaval
Com seu espírito de festa
Suas cabrochas na avenida
churrasquinho podro
É uma imposição absurda
These lyrics from Pato Fu's song G.R.E.S. express the singer's disdain for samba schools, the groups that participate in the carnival parade in Brazil. The singer is saying that they do not like the samba schools, but they are forced to endure them in February because of the carnival. The carnival is known for its festive spirit, and the singer acknowledges the dancing women (cabrochas) on the avenue and the street food (churrasquinho podre). However, the singer sees the entire carnival as an absurd imposition.
The lyrics reflect the singer's personal feelings about the samba schools and the carnival, but they also touch on a larger cultural phenomenon. The carnival is deeply ingrained in Brazilian culture, and the samba schools are a major part of it. For many people in Brazil, the carnival is an important celebration that brings people from all walks of life together. However, for some, like the singer in this song, it can be a burden.
Overall, the lyrics of G.R.E.S. reflect the complexity of the carnival and its cultural significance. While the carnival may be a time of enjoyment for many, it can also be a source of stress and exhaustion for others.
Line by Line Meaning
Eu não gosto dos G.R.E.S.
I don't like the G.R.E.S.
Mas em fevereiro
But in February
Tenho que suportar os G.R.E.S.
I have to put up with the G.R.E.S.
O carnaval
Carnival
Com seu espírito de festa
With its spirit of celebration
Suas cabrochas na avenida
Its ladies on the avenue
churrasquinho podre
Rotten barbecue
É uma imposição absurda
It's an absurd imposition
É uma imposição absurda
It's an absurd imposition
Contributed by Sydney C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.